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He told Stewart: "You have assets that outweigh that figure. You have 28 days to pay.

"The alternative is a month in jail.

"You knew Helen Bailey to be a wealthy woman, but was not content with having to share in her wealth.

"Instead, you wanted it all for yourself. She had assets well in excess of £3 million and had taken out a life insurance policy in the sum of a further £1.28 million, which you stood to receive in the event of her death.

Helen Bailey was a wealthy author

"I am satisfied that your principle motive for killing her was to enable you to take advantage of the generous provision she had made for you in the event of her death."

The court heard Stewart targeted the children's author - creator of the best-selling Electra Brown series - because she was grieving for her husband.

She made Stewart the main beneficiary of her will two years after they met through an online bereavement group in 2012.

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A jury at his murder trial heard he electronically altered a standing order paid from Helen's account from £600 to £4,000 a month shortly after her murder.

Screenshot from police interview with Ian Stewart before his arrest

Following the hearing, Charles White, senior crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern CPS, said: "Ian Stewart had hoped to make a substantial financial gain from the murder of Helen Bailey. His arrest, charge and conviction, however, thwarted that hope.

"The removal of criminal assets from offenders is a very important way of showing our communities that crime does not pay and this should reassure members of the public's the CPS is committed to ensuring offenders do not benefit financially from their crimes."